Hundreds Flock to the 27th Annual Business Expo

SAN ANGELO, TX – People from San Angelo and the Concho Valley flooded the McNease Convention Center on Thursday to visit local businesses at the 27^th Annual Business Expo.

Over 60 different businesses are waiting to find the perfect match for their company. From industrial businesses to banks and news stations, there is a variety of options to peak your interest.

“Anyone going to the expo will be open to new opportunities,” said Bruce Partain, President of San Angelo Chamber of Commerce. “We are here to be supportive of each other and be role models in the community.”

The Business Expo is not just for adults. Eighth graders from Glenn and Lincoln Middle Schools visited the Convention Center to listen to a Career Connection presentation and were given a color-coded map with different interests that were highlighted.

Partain said, “We are not just building for right now, but for the long term and are training young people to be more successful. This is also a good place for military personnel to attend so they can have an idea of what civilian life is like after the military.”

There are many-hands on activities and demonstrations to watch and learn. At the Skyline Aviation Training Academy booth, an instructor guides you through a realistic flight simulator on a video game-like screen with actual airplane controls and buttons.

Shannon Medical Center, the longest recurrent member of the Business Expo, has a dummy to demonstrate their new junctional tourniquet, which can stop the blood flow to an area if you are bleeding out.

Hosted by the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, attendance averages from 1,500-2,000 people per year.

Other San Angelo companies at the Business Expo include colleges, military branches, medical centers, first responders and Workforce Solutions. If you don’t see a place where you would like to give your resume, they will accept it and teach you how to find jobs for yourself on a statewide job search engine.

Lots of freebies like candy, small toys and raffle prizes are offered for anyone who stops by a booth. Even if a company is not hiring at the time, you can make a good name for yourself by showing the business what they’re missing. Just bring a resume or business card with your up to date information.

You can still catch the expo until 6:30 p.m. tonight.